SHRUBS
for Kansas Landscapes
Cooperative Extension Service Kansas State University Manhattan
This publication is one of a series of circulars to help you with your landscape planning. Use this bulletin when selecting shrubs for particular locations in your yard. Consider each plant for its intended use, site location, and exposure. Use the plant descriptions listed in the tables while visiting nurseries. This will help you to realize the size and performance you may expect from the plants.
All shrubs that will grow in the various sections of Kansas are not listed. Most of the shrubs mentioned were selected from the various Kansas retail nursery catalogs. A few shrub varieties are not listed in these retail catalogs, but your nurseryman can get them from wholesale nurseries supplying Kansas firms. The varieties listed are the more common shrubs used for landscaping purposes and will provide you with a wide assortment of plant material to solve any landscaping need.
GARY L. McDANIEL
Extension Specialist
Landscaping and Environmental Horticulture
The author wishes to thank Larry D. Leuthold for helpful comments during the preparation of this bulletin and Joe D. Roller for designing the illustrations used in this publication.
USES FOR WHICH WE WANT PLANT MATERIAL 1. Accent 2. Border 3. Soften Building Appearance 4. Screen poor views 5. Privacy 6. Hold a Soil Bank 7. ground cover
Shrubs are used in landscaping to provide low foliage and flowers that will compliment the house and trees in your yard. Each shrub used in your yard should fulfill a specific purpose for the overall design.
Select shrubs that will provide accent for your entryway or border focal point, soften corners and harsh lines, or provide a low transition from one point to another. Shrubs are also useful for dividing spaces by separating use areas in the yard. Shrubs are used with trees to screen unpleasant views or protect our yards from strong winds.
Shrubs as Accent Plants
Accent end of walk if sidewalk approaches from driveway.
Shrubs that create a definite accent must be used with more care in your landscape than shrubs that soften lines. Two primary areas in your landscape should be accented. The most important of these is the front entryway to your home.
If the sidewalk to your front door approaches from the driveway along the front of the house, the accent area is at the end of the walk. This will provide a “visual” as well as a “physical” barrier that will point out the front door. Sidewalks that lead directly from the street to the door present a different situation. Accent may be created on either side of the front door, but never make the plantings completely symmetrical on each side. Create a strong accent to one side and a less dominant accent on the other side of the entryway. Never use accent plants on the corners of your house.
Accents may be created by (1) Height—taller plants catch the eye first; (2) Color—brightly colored foliage always attracts attention; (3) Texture—coarse leaf or stem textures provide strong contrasts; and (4) Form—pyramidal shrubs or clipping shrubs into unnatural shapes will create accent.
Shrubbery should create a stronger accent on one side of the entryway.
A single small upright Juniper can be used to accent an entry.
Another accent area for your landscape may be located in your shrub border. This area could be to the rear of your property, where it can be viewed from the patio or living room window. Never place accent plants randomly through the shrub border. This causes each accent plant to “fight” for dominance.